Newton Community Farm
May 7, 2021
Getting Your Garden and Yard Ready
It's time to play in the dirt and get ready to grow! Here are some tips on what to do now to help ensure that your garden and your yard will thrive all year long.
 
Clear Out Weeds and Debris
Weeds and “volunteer” or unwanted plants actively work against the health of your garden plants. They will take up soil nutrients, leaving less for the plants you want to grow. Weeding before you plant your garden will allow you to keep those precious nutrients in your soil. Now is also the time to clear your yard of dead grass and leaves that may have accumulated over the winter. 

Prep Your Garden Tools
Pull out tools that have been sitting around all winter. Clean them off and use mineral spirits on wood handles to help prevent the wood from splintering. Clean your tools every spring and fall, or if they get especially dirty as you are using them.
Prepare the Soil
Getting the soil ready for your gardening project is one of the most important steps to ensuring good plant growth. You may be interested in having a soil analysis done to get a better idea of what is in your soil and what you may need to add to be most successful with your plants. University of Massachusetts Amherst offers screening for nutrients, acidity, and lead/heavy metals.

You can revitalize your soil for the coming season by mixing in compost from your own compost pile or purchased compost, adding composted manure, or by using fertilizers. (Follow the application directions as too much fertilizer can burn your plants.)

Plan Out Your Planting
Research options for your yard and garden to find out what will grow well based on conditions like sunlight exposure, soil, and drainage as well as aesthetics such as plant height, leaf variety, and color. Figuring out ahead of time what might work will allow you to establish a planting schedule and help you have more success. Remember to plan to space plants properly. There is a tendency to put plants closer together when they are small and starting out but when they are packed in, they may not be able to get enough sunlight, air circulation, and nutrients to grow.
Prune Shrubs and Trees

When the final frost has passed, remove any coverings you may have used to protect your shrubs and assess their pruning needs. Remove any wood that was damaged from the winter weather. If you cut a branch and it is brown through and through, the wood is most likely dead.

Live wood on your shrubs and trees can be pruned to promote overall plant health and to achieve a certain look for the plant. However, for shrubs that bloom early in spring, pruning now will cut back your shrub’s ability to flower to its full potential. If you are noticing buds forming on your shrubs, avoid pruning in spring. If your shrubs and trees flower later in the year, pruning will stimulate new growth and in turn increase your plant’s overall health and beauty.
Connect with Us
Check out our shows on gardening, cooking and story time on our YouTube channel. A new show will be available Friday, May 7 at 1 pm on getting your garden ready. You can also view our past shows on NewTV. An archive of our newsletters on gardening and cooking are available on our website.

If you know someone who would like to receive this newsletter, contact jay@newtoncommunityfarm.org to be added to our email list.
Sign Up for Our Free Online Speaker Series
Join us for these informative, live, online programs which are free and open to all. Please note that pre-registration for each session is required to receive the Zoom access links. Recordings of past speakers are available on our website.
Eat Your Yard: A Guide to Edible Landscaping
Wednesday, May 19, 6–7 p.m., Online program

Unleash the potential of your yard by transforming it into a beautiful, vibrant area that offers a bountiful feast. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener living in a city or the suburbs, edible landscaping expert Crystal Stevens will give you ideas on how to make use of your space with a colorful and abundant array of plants.
Newton Community Farm is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, EIN #20-2482452. If you would like to donate by mail, please send a check to Newton Community Farm at the address listed below. Don't forget to ask your employer if matching funds are available.
NEWTON COMMUNITY FARM
303 Nahanton Street
Newton, MA 02459
617-916-9655